Gas-extractor and mine-ventilator.



- G. LAWS. GAS EXTRAGTOB. AND MINE VENTILATOR.

A Patented m 25, 1909.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 12, 1908.

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UNITED STATfEdB dTENT @FIFIQE.

GEORGE LAWS, OF PHILIPSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAS-EXTBACTOB AND MINE-VENTILATOR.

Application filed March 12, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonon Laws, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philipsburg, in the county of Center and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in GasExtractors and Mine-Ventilating Systems; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to systems for ven tilating mines and has for its object to provide novel means by which dangerous gases may be removed from mines without int fering with the work of the miners therein.

Another object is to provide a novel arrangement of mine construction in combination with the gas removing means whereby very efficient mine ventilation is secured.

For these and other objects, the invention consists of certain novel arrangements and combinations of parts of which the herein described mine ventilating system is one of many possible embodiments.

WVhile herein I have described minute details of my invention, I do not limit myself to these, as the details of combination and construction may be greatly varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In the annexed drawing forming a part of this specification which is for illustrative purposes only and therefore not drawn to any particular scale, the figure shows a vertical sectional view of a mine constructed in accordance with my ventilating system.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 represents an air outlet course of a mine, and the numeral 2 represents the air intake course. The course 2 is continued into a main heading 3 which may be connected with the outlet course 1 by means of a cut-through 4 of which any numher as 5 and 6 may be provided.

The intake course 2 and the main heading 3 are separated by a mine bar 7 as shown. Communicating with the intake air course is the vertical course 8 which extends to the lowest point of the mine and is connected with the main course heading 9 thereof by means of the bottom cut-through 10.

Communicating with the course heading 9 are the rooms 11, the lowest one of which is shown as being just begun. Each of the rooms 11 is provided with a cut-through Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1909.

Serial No. 420,716.

12 by which communication is established with the room just above. The uppermost of said rooms is provided also with an air course 13 at the inner end thereof whereby connnunication is established with the main heading The outlet air course 1 is provided with a gas pipe let, the outer end of which is provided with a suction fan, (not shown) or a series thereof according to conditions. The inner part of said pipe 1% is provided with main branches 15 extending downwardly into the course headings 9 and 16.

The main branch 15 is shown as provided with secondary branches 17 extending into the various rooms 11 communicating with the course heading 9. The free ends of the secondary branches 17 are carried to the inner ends ofsaid rooms and are provided with funnel ends 18 adapted to receive gas which may be formed in said rooms.

The branches 17 are provided with valves 20 whereby the suction in the inner end of said branches may be cut off when there is no use for it. The cut-through 6 is provided with a stopping 21 whereby the upward current of air in the main heading is prevented from passing through said outthrough and is caused to pass to the end of the main heading 3 to the cut-through 4, the cut-through 5 being also provided with a stopping. In like manner the uppermost room 11 is shown having cut-throughs 22, 23 which are also provided with a stopping 24: whereby the air is prevented from passing through said cut-through but is caused to pass up through the air course 13. The pipe 14: is provided with a suction fan as stated and a partial vacuum is formed in said pipe which forms a suction at the funnels 18 where the gas to be removed is found and, as will be apparent, the gas is sucked into the branch pipes 17 up the main branch 15 and out the pipe 14.

In practice, assuming the valves 20 to be opened, the greater portion of the current of fresh air passing into the mine through the intake course, and the gases formed in the rooms 11 are sucked through the main and secondary branch pipes 15 and 17, respectively, to the outlet pipe and the remainder of the fresh air supply is induced to flow through the several rooms in an upward course to the air outlet course.

The advantages of this device are apparent. The device could be used to take out gas from one place or twenty at the same time, at a very small cost after the ma chine and pipes are installed. It can be left to work by itself and taken to any part of the mine. All of the miners can work with open lights after the fire boss has made his examination in the mornings, and there will not be any need for bradislnnen or brash in the mines as this device will do away with all of such. work. My device will also draw smoke from working places after a shot has been fired. Because of the better ventilation and purer air, my system will protect the life and health of the miners.

There the mine is a long way in it will not be necessary to start at the drift mouth with a pipe. There can be an outlet in the surface by putting down a hole of whatever size is needed.

It is thought that the operation and advantages of my invention will be understood withoutfurther explanation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters-Patent is:

in a mine ventilating system, an air intake course and an air outlet course, a main heading and a vertical course communicating with said intake course, a main course heading communicating at its lower end with said vertical course, a series of rooms arranged in tiers and communicating with said main course heading, a series of cutthroughs whereby communication is established between said rooms and between the uppermost room and said main heading, a series of cut-throughs whereby communication is established between said main heading and said air outlet course, a course heading at the inner end of said main heading and communicating with said air outlet course, a series of mine bars or stoppings arranged in certain of said courses and cutthroughs whereby the air is directed through the same and said rooms, a gas suction pipe in said air outlet course, main branch pipes communicating with said suction pipe and arranged in said course headings, and a series of valved secondary branch pipes arranged in said rooms and communicating with one of said main branch suction pipes, said secondary branch pipes having funnels on their inner ends whereby a current of air is caused to circulate through said courses and rooms and the gas removed therefrom.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE LA /VS. lVitnesses:

WVILLIAM 001), JOHN TRIrPE'r. 

